This is all quite frustrating, really.
Did I mention I have an agent?!?
This is very exciting for me. There's this thing called nanowrimo, and I've decided to really focus my energy on Morgan's Run for the month of November, and, well, at a write-in, I met some folks and they liked what I'd written so far, and they asked me to join their group!
I don't think anyone is reading this, but Morgan just remembered something really, really BAD that happened when she was teeny. Bad bad.
The book is currently about twenty five thousand words. Wow! Typing that sure makes it sound like a lot. It's the third novel I've attempted since I began this journey last June, and it seems to be a winner, at least to me. The other two pretty much fell flat after a couple of scenes. I don't know how real writers do this day after day after day, dealing with the loneliness, boredom, and constant interruption by 'real life'. But I'm trying, and I think I'm doing well.
I have my character - Morgan - and her problem - stuck with a house, dog, and business mess she really doesn't think she wants - a love interest - computer geek Nick - and a villain, as yet unnamed, who seems to want Morgan dead or out of the way or at least out of the house. So far so good. Just need another fifty or seventy thousand words, give or take, and I'll be good to go.
What then? I'm not sure. I try not to spend any money that I don't have to - or travel any further than the grocery store - so taking a workshop or something is out. There are some writers groups in Ann Arbor, but they seem to be a lot more advanced than I am. Maybe they'll let me sit in and just absorb the writer vibes sometime. I hope so. Feeling kind of lonely here. And scared. I've given myself one year to 'become a writer' and there are only a few months left (three months and twenty-six days, actually) before I need to stop screwing around and find myself a job. I could hold out a bit longer, there's still some money in savings and the 401(k), and I certainly could sell the house and rent some little place, but what would Bruno and Heidi do if I couldn't find a cheap place that took pets? And, also, if I sell the house, it's GONE. Dad's insurance paid off the mortgage and I really like not having to pay rent anywhere. If I sell, rent will just slowly eat that money away.
I read some discouraging stuff this past week about e-piracy and lack of publishers who pay advances to their writers. How does anyone make it as a writer? Where can they find a way to make a living in this crazy marketplace? What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life? I turned thirty eight last month. Is that too old to be starting over as a writer?
I just don't know. But Morgan has some running to do and she's pestering me to get back to it. :)
A LOT of the story takes place in a house and I decided to make up an official floor plan. :) Here it is!!
I know it's been a long time since I've posted - and I don't think anyone even reads this darn thing - but despite a few personal lumps I've had to deal with, mostly concerning the old job and neighbors and a crunched front end on my car - I'm back to work on this odd little story. My main character's name is Morgan. And I like her. I like her a lot.
One of my characters wants to create a website called rabidmonkeyvirgins.com and, for a moment, I thought that might make a cool title for the book.
I kind of hit a bit of a snag, plot wise, so I've been reading for the past couple of days, fiction, mostly, but I've also been trying to locate some good writer resources online. One thing I've discovered while looking up terms is that I think, maybe, I write Literary Thrillers. Least it seems like that to me. They're not standard, that's for sure!
It's weird how committing to something makes parts of it easier, and parts harder. I'm giddy with excitement and making lots of plans on how to approach the task I've set before myself, but I'm also too excited to sit still long, which makes the writing part hard.
Also, I think I have a problem with gerunds or something. These writing terms are baffling!